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Clearly Defined Constructs and Specific Situations Are the Currency of SJTs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 March 2016

Lijun Chen*
Affiliation:
College of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China
Jinyan Fan
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Auburn University
Lu Zheng
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Auburn University
Elissa Hack
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Auburn University
*
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Lijun Chen, College of Public Affairs, Zhejiang University, 234 Mengmingwei Hall, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China310058. E-mail: lijunchen@zju.edu.cn

Extract

Although we echo Lievens and Motowidlo's (2016) view that situational judgment test (SJT) research should subscribe to the construct-driven approach, we disagree with their argument on two counts. First, we question whether measuring general domain knowledge represents the only way to advance SJT research. Second, we question whether it is appropriate to downplay the importance of situations in SJTs. In this commentary, we first briefly review construct-driven SJT studies and then share our own experience in developing an SJT for integrity in China using the construct-driven approach. Based on the review and reflection, we come to two major conclusions: (a) construct-driven SJT research has progressed well so far without the reconceptualization of SJTs as measures of general domain knowledge, and (b) specific situations are an important feature of SJTs that should not yet be dismissed.

Type
Commentaries
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology 2016 

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